Shock-absorber.



W. BRAMHAM.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 191's.

LIQLGJLQG Patented June 30 5 073 Emma y @fl/ZA Q,

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WILFRED BRAMI-IAM, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Application filed August 9, 1913. Serial No. 783,853.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILFRED BRAMHAM, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shock absorbers for vehicles and constitutes an improvement upon the spring attachment or shock absorber shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 972,806, granted to me October 18, 1910. While the device shown in my said patent has proved in actual service wholly adequate for the purpose for which it was designed, it is believed that the present invention possesses advantages over the shock absorber shown and described in my former patent, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The present invention like that shown and described in my said former patent is peculiarly adapted for use in combination with the frame and wheels of a motor cycle to obviate the violent shocks and jars incident to the riding of such vehicles even on ordinary roads. The description will therefore be addressed to its use in this environment, it being understood that the invention is by no means limited to such specific use.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of my invention,- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor cycle partly broken (way and showing my improved shock absorber in combination with both the front and rear wheels; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional .view of the spring and cushion device hereinafter described.

My invention may be used in combination with either or both wheels of a motor cycle or other vehicle, and in the drawings I have illustrated it in combination with both the front and rear wheels. For the sake of clearness I will first describe it in combination with the front wheel.

A is the frame having the usual fork B extending on opposite sides of the front wheel C and having a mutually pivotal connection with the axle C of said wheel through the pivoted arms E.

F is a bracket rigidly secured to the frame A and preferably provided with an upturned end f adapted to serve as a lantern holder. Upon said bracket F and passing therethrough there is fixed a hollow, air

tight, tube or cylinder Gr, screw-threaded for a portion of its length and closed at its bottom by a removable cap Gr. Within said tube or cylinder G and projecting therefrom is a reciprocating plunger H having a spring holder J at its top, to which is secured one end of a tension spring I, prefer ably a tension coiled spring as shown, the other end thereof being secured to a spring holder J adjustably mounted on the screwthreaded portion of said cylinder G whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted to suit the individual user. It will be observed that when the plunger H is in its normal position shown in Fig. 3, it does not completely fill said cylinder, so that there is left at the bottom an air space which acts as an air cushion to prevent the shock of the recoil of the spring. To prevent the entrance of dirt, dust, etc, into said cylinder, there is provided a light sleeve or shell K secured to the projecting portion of said plunger and extending around said cylinder in sliding engagement therewith. Preferably said sleeve or shell K is driven onto an enlargement H formed upon the plunger H, and is provided with a washer W of felt or the like at its lower end. Oil holes for the passage of lubricant into the cylinder G are provided, as shown at O, and the top of said cylinder is preferably beveled, as shown, readily to receive said oil. To the top of said spring holder J there is secured, as by the bolt L, a pair of rods M, forming in effect a fork, which extend upon opposite sides of the wheel and are pivotally secured at their lower ends to-lugs or ears 6 on the arms E.

Referring now to the combination of my improved shock absorber with the frame and rear wheel R of the motor cycle, F is a bracket rigidly secured to the frame A, upon which is mounted the cylinder G, plunger H, spring I, etc., already described as mounted upon the bracket F. The axle of the wheel R is adjustably secured in the arms S which are pivotally secured to the frame A and extend on opposite sides of the wheel R. The rods or fork M which are bolted at the top of the spring holder J extend on opposite sides of the wheel and are pivotally secured at their lower ends to lugs or ears 8 upon the arms S. Normally the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the coils of the springs being closed and the plunger at its lowermost position.

.noW the wheel strikes. against an obstacle in "its path or travelsover an uneven road sursprings-expand and contract,- tl1e-recipro 1 cationof the plunger 1n. the .cylmden a ding .the vertical positionaof the spring I and a guide it in; its: movement. ylt vvill furthers;

When the rider mounts the'machihe and is seated thereon, his Weight added to that of the frame-expandsthe springs I,1-ifts the plunger in its cylinder, and theframe andv rider are suspended on said springs. WVhen face, the axles are lifted:,.causing .-the rods 1 or fork M to push upward, thus expanding the springs-in.)obyiatingithe. shockwgf the formsthefunction; of :a. guide rod to. insure;

and connecting the top of said spring with said axle.

2. -In--a vehicle, in combination, a frame, a. Wheel and its axle, a pivotal connection between said. frame and said axle, a bracket on said frame, an air tight .cylinder vertically mounted on said bracketand having aplung-er. provided at its top With a spring holder, a tension spring surrounding said cylinder secured., ati*}il*tS{tp.|tO -said spring iholderaandlat itsaibottomstmsaid bracket,

and aa-forkextending n l-opposite sides of said Wheel-.amdwconnecting theitopzof said spring-with said axle.

i; 3. In ia ivehgicleaiint:combinatiomgaaframe,

. blow. @Itwvill beobserved= that the; plunger; ca; WhQ6l anCl-,l=tS ;ax;le, .a;,pi.vot;al connection 1 H, ;n0t ,.only. serves the purpose of aiding; the;- q; ,springs in taking up the shock, zbllli also per- ,betwenfsaid frame i-andi said. axle, a bracket 1011 said frame; gan- .;air tight cylinder vertically-mounted: QIlwSSdd bracket and having 'atplungeri provided at; its top 'zWiIihr. a, spring holder, a-;d ust. protecting rshell fast on said be; obsenvedithat asithe arms, S have a piv-n plunger rand;inn sliding engagement With .otal connection .withkthe frame :and there: rsaidi cylinder ga; tension sprlng-secured at 'np-a-nd-downi movementof the frame iveriy 1 gentle, .thus insuring ;the' safety, ease and l comfort ofthe rider. i

' 1 a Wheel and; its axle, a-.pivotal;connection: S

-- .15 g-fore riseal ld fall W-ith,-.the1ax1e, the tension 1 '1 uprand-down movement. 1

of the;sprocket chainisi-iinaflected ,by'the I A shock absorber constructed ginaaccordance with my inventionphejrein described,

the use inthis :environm'entcf;avspring :un-

.held under compression. -as fully explained;

its ;top to. .said; springholder and at its bot- .tomflto 1 :said tbracket, and 1a a fork extending on oppositesides of said Wheel andconnectting thegtop, of. ;sa1d; spr1ng With said axle.

4, 11211 a .vehicle,1,=in1combination av frame,

a a possesses all the, advantages resulting fItOnTmZt wheelzandzits-axle,pivoted arms connect- 1 30 der tension ;,as.= d1st1ngu1shed from springs ingsaidframe and;said axle, abracket on saith framenan; air tightzcyhnder vertically ;,:mounted on said bracket and having. a plun- "a .in my saidyPatent No.: 972,806. In addi-; .tion .theprovision. ofimeans to lessen the ger provided at its top with a; spring holder, ,a: dustgprotectin'g {shell fast on; said plunger shock ofthe recoil of the-springrenders the .andfinigsliding rengagement With said cylin-- I claim: 1. In a 6111016521111 c0mb1nat10n,.a. fia1ne,i

den, a tension spring secured at iitS top to said spring-yholderaand ataits bottom to said:bracket aupairof rodsifast to the top ofesaid ,spring holder, -;extending= on oppositesides ofsaid 111661,. and secured at their bottoms to said :pivoted arms.

' 1 between :saidvframaand said axlc fan air 1 =Signed=by1 mewat Beverly, .Massachusetts vits upper. end! to said; plunger,; and fork cured at'iitsloivvierv end to saidframe and at extending on opposite sides of said: Wheel ,this 56th. dayz.of,August, 1913.

WILFRED :BRAMHAM. NVitnesses a. .nGHARLns DJA VOODBERRY, 5 4 JOSEPHINELH. RYAN.

- Copies of this patent may be 0btained for five cents each,- by'addressin-g the Commissionerof Patents, 

